How to Identify Magic Mushrooms: Step-by-Step
Published on the DoubleBlind website: https://doubleblindmag.com/how-to-identify-magic-mushrooms/
The word “mushrooms” is one of those evocative words, said with an excited tone or a serious one. People often talk about mushrooms with fond memories. Others speak about mushrooms as something to be cautious of and respect. There are plenty of good reasons for apprehension: Eating the wrong mushrooms can make you very sick or turn out to be deadly. Yet, there’s no need for mycophobia. Fungi are everywhere; they are crucial parts of all ecosystems. The more you are aware of mushrooms, the more you’ll realize that fungi are all around us. Learning how to identify magic mushrooms and understand your local fungi can help you feel more in touch with the environment and understand the ecology of your area.
In this article, our focus is on the identification of fungi from the genus Psilocybe. Although, it’s important to remember that no amount of text can substitute for real first-hand knowledge of fungi. Fungi are very sensory; their texture, smell, and the way the light falls on the various parts of the mushroom can give essential clues to identification. Still, it’s worth mentioning that many useful features can aid in identifying a genus and eventually an individual species—but we cannot cover all of those here. This guide is an introduction to identifying magic mushrooms for beginners. But, it should not replace the help and guidance of experienced local mycologists. Rather, it’s meant to pique curiosity and help you learn what to study.